The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1887-01-20
CLUVERlUs EXECUTED
ne Dies With out confessing.-His
Wonderfr 4 Nerve to the last


1'lss With out confessing. His
Wonderfr i Nerve to the last.
3n5nas 1asan Cluverius,. convicted Of
ne mufaer of Fannie Lillian Madison, was
anged IN the city Jail at Richmond OF
'rlaas last. AS early as 8 A. NJ, people
'eg7 n to gather in the vicinity of the jail
' ID by noon every approach to the jail was
packed with human beings, the number in
sight being estimated at from 10000 te
$4,000. The house-tops and hill-sides neal
the Jail, from which sight into the Jail
yard could be had, were also crowded. -
Admission to the jailwas only had through
tickets issued by City Sergeant Smith,Whe
Though chary in giving them out, admitted
over two hundred persons.
PRISONERS LAST SLEEP AND BREAKFAST.
The prisoner passed sleepless night,
most Of the time being spent with Mr..
Beverly Crump, one of his counsel, who
has done everything to save or extend his
life, and who remained with him till 2 A,
NJ. and from that hour TIL O'Clock he
Was GuSdSSu III piSJSA3 ttbu tsp ltiGSi die
singing hymns. From 6 O'Clock until 8
he slept soundly, and then arose and ate
breakfast. During the morning hours
there was much speculation as to whether
the Governor would further reprieye, and
the question was not finally settled until
some time after noon, when Mr.. Crump,
who had been to see the Governor, return
ed to the Jail and announced that the ex
ecutiye power would not be interposed.-
Rev. DR.. VIM. E. Hatcher came to the
Jail about j O'Clock, and remained Will
the prisoner to the last, administering re-
ligious consolation and praying with The
prisoner At noon suit OF new blacl
clothes was brought to the Jail, and tht
prisoner donned them,
THE DEATH PROCESSION.
| At two minutes to one the death process
sion was formed, consisting OF Sergeant
Smith. two deputies, Rev. DR.. Hatcher
AID the prisoner, the latter having hi
hands tied in front, and his body from necl
| to ankles enveloped in lady's old fashion
ed waterproof cloak The prisoner, theHgl
| thin and pale, moved with steady steps t
| the scaffold, which he assembled in the sam
| quiet manner and stood on the trap. Ser
geant Smith then read the death Warran
or copy of the Judgment OF the court
which the prisoner listened to with boWe,
head and apparent close attention.
THE DOOMED MAN HAD NOTHING TO SAY
When the sergeant had concluded, b
asked the doomed man if he had anything
to say, and Cluverius replied mo. SIT
nothing at all y his voice being searcel
audible. Dr. Hatcher then knelt and OF
| fered a feeling and feryent prayer, an
when he had finished he turned to the pris
oner, who said a few words in a low tone
and DR.. Hatcher, turning to the crowd i
the yard, said II am requested by tn
prisoner to utter one word for him, an
that is that in this moment of death b
carries to the grave no feeling OF lll-Wl
towards any man on earth.n DIR. Hatche
then left the scaffold. Raising both hand
as he went out he said the prisoner ha
| asserted bis innocenee to the last just be
fore leaving the cell.
THE TRAP SPRUNG.
| When DR.. Hatcher had gone, peput
Sergeant Alien tied the prisoners knee
tightly together, put the rope around h!
neck, and adjusted the black cap ard hoo6
4 Everything being ready, Sergeant Smit
gave the signal, and at eight minutes afte
one O'Clock the trap was sprung. a sue
den swish, clang of the falling trapdoo
!, and the next instant the body OF Cluyerlu
was at the end of the rope. over ten fee
below where he had been standing. III
rope, WHICH was made of partisc 0lored Sill
J stretched over foot, and The toes OF tE
!, hanged man nearly TOUCHED the brick paw
ment beneath. a minute OF quiet, an
then there was considerable struggling
lasting several minutes, together with
heavy stentorlous breathing. indioatin
! that death was being produced by strapgl
lation. After sixteen minutes the phys
clans pronounced the body dead, and twel
ty ninuteg after the trap was sprung I'll
body was taken down and PLACED ina plai
!, wooden coffin, and turned over to the VI
dertaker to be prepared fer burial at b
former home in King and Queen count,
INTEREST IN TIE CASE.
The ease, the most remarkable one tn;
ever occurred in the crilGinsl history (
this State, has attracted widespread after
/ tion, Up to within few hours of the e,
eeution there was a lingering belief in IL
mind of the public that the dovernt
might interfere. The Governor howeye
had pretty well determined late Thursds
| night that no new evidence had been SUI
, mitted to him which justified further il
terrerenGe On his part with Tie sentens
of the court in the case.
CLUVERIuS' LAST HOURS.
Cluyerius sat up in his cell until 81
o'clock Friday morning. Until two oicloC
!, he conyersed with Capt. Frank Cunning
; ham, q noted singer Of sacred songs, an
Mr.. Beverly Crump, one of his counsel
AT that hour he threw himself. dreSse'
upon the cot in his cell, ard slumbered Vi
> til nine O'Clock, when he was aroused
one of the prison officers. He ate breal
fast with Sergeant Smith. Erom that tin
until he was called TO mount the ScaffOl'
his time was spent in writing some far
| well letters, and with Rev. DR.. Hatche
!, his spiritual adviser.
HIS PLUCK AND CALMNESS
! The man s pluck and phenomenal cain
ness'were the subject of comment of tt
hundreds of men who were gathered wit
In the prison walls and observed it.
HE PROTESTS HIS INNOCENCE.
Shortly after ten O'Clock Friday NOR
, ing Capt Cunningham, at the prisoner
'How Firm Foundation. y AS the la
words of the Song died away, Capt. Gu
ningham turned to the prisoner and asl
ed, DO you still say that you are inn(
cent 20 His reply was. ST am innocent.
, do you believe in our Lord Jesns Chris
and, believing in Him. assert that you al
innocent. knowing that you are to ansWt
; before Ged % asked the visitor. Eyes,
replied Clnyerius, Il can say that am ii
nocent.' After receiving that assurant
and a last farewell, the singer left tt
man.
Rev. DR.. Hatcher, who has been tt
spiritual advisor of the convicted murde
| er, then went into his cell, where he +.
manned until five minutes to one o'cfocl
when Sergeant Smith entered the col
demned mans cell and announced thu
time was up. CluyeriHs showed no sigr
| of emotion, and simply remarked Il Al
ready to go with you,
THE sCAFFoLD Characterization
| This was erected in the long and ma
row yard of the prison, surrounded by wal
SO high that none on the east side, exceI
those who had secured the most elevate
positions, could overlook. Some effort q
ornamentation had been made in the con
struction Of the horrible engine Of destrut
ton. The cross beam was of dressed blac
l.Walnut, slightly arched. The rope wa
composed of red. white and blue sill
| strands, and was not in keeping with th
place and circumstances. Cluverius wall
ed out of his CELL which had been his onl
home for all these months, with calm sell
possession.
JEERED BY THE OUTSIDE CROWD.
AS he descended the steps leading to tn
prison yard, some of the crowd outsid
| caught sight of him for the first and onl
time during the day, and jeered and cheer
| pd lonAiv Thpaa eirrnc 0f die nnroyJai f.o :